WORKSPACE ERGONOMICS AND EMPLOYEE BURNOUT: A MULTILEVEL ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF ORGANIZATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL FACTORS AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

Employee burnout has emerged as a significant concern within contemporary academic environments, carrying substantial consequences for employee welfare, job efficacy, and institutional productivity. Despite existing research highlighting various factors contributing to burnout, the influence of workspace ergonomics is still inadequately examined, especially within higher education settings in developing areas. This research explores the correlation between workspace ergonomics and employee burnout among academic personnel at two public universities in Kano State, Nigeria, while also assessing the moderating effects of both organizational and individual variables. Employing a multilevel analytical methodology, survey data were gathered from 500 academic staff members across the two universities. The findings reveal a significant negative relationship between workspace ergonomics and burnout, indicating that improved ergonomic conditions are associated with lower levels of burnout. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that organizational factors (such as institutional culture and ergonomic policies) and individual factors (including autonomy and personal coping resources) significantly moderate this relationship, strengthening the protective effect of ergonomic conditions on employee well-being. These findings highlight the importance of integrating ergonomic interventions with supportive organizational practices and individual resource development in burnout prevention strategies. By adopting a multilevel perspective, this study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive understanding of how physical work environments interact with institutional and personal factors to influence burnout in academic settings. The results offer practical implications for university administrators and policymakers seeking to enhance staff well-being and institutional sustainability.